Study Jam at the Benton-Center ~ Photo Story

Students Study hard for finals at the LBCC Benton-Center June 10, 2017.

LBCC Spring Term Study Jam at the Benton Center in Corvallis

 June 10, 2017. Snacks and lunch were provided for the benefit

 of students and staff participating in this event.

Morgot Mang of Therapeutic Massage,
massages Deven Costa's back
for distressing at the LBCC
Benton-Center Study Jam on
June 10, 2017.

Ken Wiensz helping students with math
 at the LBCC Benton-Center Study Jam
on June 10, 2017.

Study Strategies table at LBCC Benton-Center
to help students study effectively
for the Study Jam on June 10, 2017.

JN 217 week 10 forum

Goals:

1. To write more than the required amount of stories.
2. To learn how to write an anecdotal lead.
3. To improve my news writing style.

• So far I haven't written more stories than required, but I did do more than last term, so I'm satisfied. I've posted the "Superdog Fenway!," "Fun and Games," "Your Money and Your Rights," and "On Being Left-Handed."

•  My first really good anecdotal lead was for "Fun and Games". Here it is:

"The baseball made contact with Gabriel Guzman’s bat. Gabriel ran to first, second, then third base, but would he make home? The ball sped towards Gabriel, but he slid across the LBCC gym floor into home. Safe!"

I still love this lead because it really changed how I write stories. A major turning point for me that I still use.

• Since last term, my writing style has improved by leaps and bounds. My first story was "All About Wowzerwall", and it was horrible. I only had one live source, and it wasn't interesting. In short it sucked. Like I said before, "Fun and Games" was so much better than anything I had written before. I have definitely improved my story writing skills, and I intend to continue improving them.

 

My Hometown

                             Madelaine Cossman of Midway Farms, 
                    at the Corvallis Farmer's Market on May 20, 2017.

               Corvallis Farmer's Market on May 20, 2017.

The OSU Valley Library in Corvallis Oregon on May 20, 2017.

Photo Profile: Tom Bohmker

Tom Bohmker at the Santiam Christian School track meet at LBCC on May 26, 2017. Tom Bohmaker is the Athletic Equipment coordinator at LBCC, and worked for two weeks organizing the track meet.

Tom Bohmker, the LBCC
Athletics Eqipment Coordinator
on May 26, 2017.

JN 134 Blog Forum week 10

Topic 1:

Nagisa Kirby, a member of the Monmouth Taiko group performs

on May 10, 2017 at the LBCC Albany Campus Quad.

1) This was my favourite, because it was the first time everything I learned clicked in. Though the drum sticks aren't clear, Kirby's face is and that is the most important.

2) This photo captures the scene the best out of all my other photos, and it is pretty good quality.

3) I think it combines all the techniques I've learned. Low angle, up close, and in the shadow. It was hard to get this photo, while keeping out of people's way.

4) I've learned the camera settings more, so that it can adjust to the environment I'm in. I have learned to crop better, so I don't cut off or leave in anything I shouldn't. My angles are better, and I became less shy throughout the term. I'm still not great at all these things, but I definitely improved.

Topic 2:

Goals: "I want to be able to use my camera well, to the point that I can see what I want for a picture and be able to know how I could make it happen. I know I won't be an expert by the end of class, but I want to be able to use a camera with confidence. I want to shoot a really good in action sports photo, so I will be working up to it throughout the term. My last main goal for this class is to begin to feel comfortable with taking photos of people."

I did achieve my goals to some degree, but not to the level I hoped. I did get way better with the cameras I worked with. My extreme shyness did lessen, but I still struggle with taking people's photos. My sports photos turned out pretty well, so I'm satisfied with them. Over all I improved, but I think I could and should have worked harder to achieve my goals.

Margaret Bourke-White report

Courtesy: American National Biography Online

 Margaret Bourke-White was born in New York city on June 14, 1904. Her father, Joseph Edward White, was an engineer. Her mother, Minnie Bourke, was a teacher. Bourke-White used her knowledge of architecture from her father, in the photos she took.She tried to get the best angles this way, showing the best story.

 She went to many colleges, including the University of Michigan and Cornell University. She eventually graduated with a degree in biology, and used photography to pay for tuition.

 She married Everette Chapman in 1924, but divorced in '26. She later married Erskine Caldwell in 1939, but it also ended, after three years.

 Bourke-White has taken several famous photos, many of which are in history books. They include the photo of the African-American breadline in front of the 'American Way' billboard. She also took several photos of the liberation of Buchenwald.

 She was the first woman allowed to photograph in war zones, breaking more ground for female photojournalists. She was featured in the World Fair Women's hall of fame in 1965 along with 10 other women.

 She took pictures all over the world, including New York, Russia, Germany, India, Korea, and many other places. Always on the scene, she was one of the most dedicated photojournalists. She used all her skill and technique for her pictures, never letting one be insignificant.

 She took pictures of Gandhi, the Korean war, the Dust Bowl, and so many other events. She was essential to the recording of history, and making it relevant. Her photos are a great reminder of what we shouldn't do, and what we must keep doing. She is a great example to photojournalists of all types, and her determination lead her to recording history.

 In 1952, Bourke-White contracted Parkinson's disease, but she kept working. She completely retired in 1969 after a long struggle with her health, and died a few years later in 1971.

Book report: "It's What I Do" by Lynsey Addario

"It's What I Do" book report.

 Lynsey Addario's book, "It's What I Do" is a powerful example of what dedication is. She's been kidnapped twice, sexually abused and been through a car accident. Addario has such an intense sense of duty to share with the world what is happening in war zones. I think she's the bravest person I have ever known about, and she inspires me to push more, to try harder. So no, I don't think she's crazy, she just loves what she does.

 I think Addario shows the most dedication from her career in the Korengal Valley, because she was literally risking her life every moment. Even after she left, she couldn't quite let go of it. She experienced PTSD symptoms, because of all she went through. The worst part about it was that most of the pictures were never used. 

  

 Addario seems to focus on breaking stereotypes by showing emotion. She changes the feared and unknown, into people with their own fears. It evokes my sympathy.  

Courtesy: lynseyaddario.com

 This photo of Kabul citizens is one of the many that make me realize that these people aren't monsters, that they are more than what they have been labeled. These are people, just like me, who have emotions and memories. They have families they worry about.

 Addario's drive impacted and taught me the most out of her work. After her assignment in Korengal Valley, she said "Coming so close to the edge of death and pushing myself to my own physical and mental limits helped me appreciate the beauty of daily life. In my late teens I had made a promise to myself that every day I would push myself to do something I didn't want to do. I was convinced it would ultimately make me become a better person" (p.238). I now want to do the same, to drive myself harder everyday, to learn new skills. This way I'll go somewhare one step at a time.

Courtesy: lynseyaddario.com 

This photo of Khalid on page 243, is amazing. It shows exactly what he feels. The eyes are almost haunting, etched into my memory. This photo compels me to ask questions about the war, was it really worth it?

It's amazing to me that Addario would choose to keep working after being kidnapped twice. Even without that, everything else she had to go through is almost unbelievable. She had to ware hijabs and sometimes burkas, while trying to operate a camera. She worked in an extremely sexist society, but she never let it stop her.

 One of my favourite sections is where a group of soldiers are staring at her and talking. She assumed something bad would happen. It turned out that they just wanted her to be able to drink the tea, but she couldn't with her head piece on.

Addario's book is one the best books I've ever read.
Even though I don't agree with everything,
I would suggest this book to anyone who wanted to go into photojournalism. It's so alive, and it adds another level of understanding to recent world events.

 To all the war photographers that risk their lives, thank you so very much for your valuable service. Thank you for bringing the world to us, as you risk your lives for that one photo that will change the world. 

On Being Left-Handed

What being a "Southpaw" is really like.

nito100 via Getty Images

 Though we are only 10 percent of the population, we pack a mean left hook.

 Being left-handed. It's one of those daily difficulties I face any time I unlock a door, or, parish the thought, use scissors. Why, I ask, must everything be made for right-handers?

 Scissors, as I mentioned earlier, are made to provide torture to our small community. Even "left-handed" scissors are made for right-handers, because someone usually forgets that not only the handle, but also the blades must be reversed.

 We were disliked in most history, often accused for being evil, in fact, we get our word sinister from the Latin for left-handed.

 The struggle is real, so let me enlighten you.

 A typical day's fight begins like this: I jump in the car, put my coffee cup in the holder, and get ready for take off. But wait a second! The ignition is on the right side. Oh well, I'll just use the right-hand brain converter to fix it (hopefully it's working today).

 Okay, made it to school, now off to class. Now I'm in class, time for notes. Writing with my favourite blue pen. Ah! The dreaded giant smudge mark is all over my hand. It will go away soon, won't it? Writing, teacher talking, more notes. Bump! "Sorry, I didn't see your elbow there. Yes I'm left-handed. No I'm not more creative, please just let me take notes."

 I need water. Oh! I brought my water bottle today. Now is it lefty loosey righty tighty, but whose left is it? I'm turning it left, it's not budging. Must be the other direction. Finally, it's open! I wonder if right-handers have troubles with that one? Wait! Why are you writting like that! It looks so unnatural. Never mind, that's your dominant hand.

 Wow, I just found another lefty in my class! Why didn't I sit next to them the first day of class, then I wouldn't be bumping into this guy. Oh no! I have to use scissors now! Right-handed, right. Well, here it goes. This isn't so bad, at least I'm on the lines. Why is everyone else done already, oh that's why. It would be so much easier if I was right-handed. What I'm saying, I love being left-handed, don't I? Well, maybe not all the time but most the time.

 This is what runs through my head almost every day.

  It does have it's pros. For instance, according to Dr.Christian Jarrett of Psychology Today, there does seem to be a greater advantage in sports, mainly because it disorients right-handed opponents. There is also an instant connection between lefties that I have experienced nowhere else. When you discover another lefty, you know that they have been through the same struggles as you have.
 I now possess this strange habit of scanning my general area for fellow left-handers. If there is one, I feel pride. Sometimes I even go over to talk with them about the great struggle and advantage of being left-handed.

 I apologize to the right-handers of the world, because it probably seems like us left-handers do nothing but complain, or try to make excuses for why we're better. We're not better, but sometimes to get through the difficult things we need to take our spoon of sugar.

 We are not alone though. There are many celebrities who are lefties, including Angelina Jolie, Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Lawrence, just to name a few. Not to mention the eight U.S. presidents that bore this badge of honour.

 For those lefies reading this now, we're all in this together. I mean it; we'll get through. Resist the urge to try right-handedness. Be who you are, for you are amazing the way you write.

It's tough being a southpaw, but I wouldn't change it for the world.


At a Glance:
MTV: 23 Left-handed Celebs Who Know How To Live In a Right-Handed World.

Psychology Today: Three Myths and Three Facts About Left-Handers

Thoughtco: Left Handed U.S. Presidents